Coin-controlled circuit-controller.



V. R. BACON.

CUIIN CONTROLLED CIRCUIT CONTROLLER.

APPucAHoN msn 1AN.26.|917,

1,244,408. Patenfed oct. 23,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l..

INVENTOR VVITNESSES A'r'roRNEY V'. R. BACON.

COIN CONTROLLED CIRCUIT CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. 26. IBI?. 1,244,408. Patented 0015.231917.

' 2 SHEETS-*SHEET 2A NVENTOR V. aaov.

ATTORNEY .2%. OCM/f1@ UNITED sTATnsv PATENT onirica.A

VAUGHAN R. BACON, 0F FLORENCE, NEBRASKA.

COIN-CONTROLLED CIRCUIT-CONTROLLER.

Application filed January 26, 1917.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, VAUGHAN R. BACON, a citizen ofthe United States,residing at Florence, in the county of Douglas and State of Nebraska,have invented new and useful Improvements in Coin-Controlled Circuit-Controllers, of which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to improvements in coin controlled circuitcontrollers and has particular application to apparatus for closing anelectric circuit for a predetermined time upon the insertion of a coinin the device, thereby enabling current to How through the translatingdevice or devices connected in the controlled circuit, and opening suchcircuit after the expiration of the prescribed period.

In carrying out the present invention, it is my purpose to provide acoin controlled circuit controlling apparatus, whereby the controlledcircuit may be closed for a predetermined time, upon the insertion of acoin in the apparatus, and opened after the expiration of the prescribedperiod of time, and wherein by means of a master switch connected withthe spring motor of the chronometer, the controlled circuit will bebroken when the motor is in need of rewinding, thereby preventing theapparatus from maintaining the controlled circuit closed inl the eventof the chronometer motor running down.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in theconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forthand falling within scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawings z- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional viewythrough circuit controlled apparatus constructedin accordance with thepresentinvention,

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view through the same.

Fig. 3 is a similar view taken on a plane parallel with Fig. 2. v

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, 1 designates a casing composedof suitable material, and having the top wall formed with an opening inwhich is mounted a vertically disposed coin chute 2. Slidably mounted inthe upper end of the coin chute 2 is a plunger 3 normally `held inelevated Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented oct. 23, 1917.

serial No. 144,755.

position, while formed in one side wall of the coin chute 2 adjacent tothe upper end thereof is an opening l arranged below the plunger l andthrough which the coins may be deposited in the chute. One side edge ofthe coin chute 2 below the top wall of the casing 1 is formed with aslot 5 while the opposite side edge is formed with a slot 6 arranged ina plane below the slot 5 and opening into the casing 1.

h/Iounted in the casing 1 is a chronometer mechanism 7. Connected withthe chronometer mechanism 7 and adapted to be driven therefrom is ahorizontal shaft 8 journaled in suitable bearings and loosely mounted onthe shaft 8 a disk 9 composed of insulating material. Secured to oneface of the disk 9 concentrically thereof is a split conducting ring 10having the ends thereof spaced apart. The ring 10 is preferably seatedin a groove formed in the disk 9 so that the outer surface of the ringwill lie iiush with the adjacent side of the disk. Fastened to one wallof the casing 1 within the latter is a supporting bracket 11 andfastened to the supporting bracket 11 and insulated therefrom and fromeach other are contact fingers 12 arranged upon the side of the disk 9carrying the conductor ring and having the free ends thereof nor- Amally bearing upon the disk between the extremities of the ring 10, asclearly illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Secured to one side ofthe disk 9 and lprojecting outwardly therefrom are pins 13 and 11ispaced apart across the disk, and fastened to the shaft 8 is one end ofa stop bar 15, having the other end arranged between the pins 13 and 14Cand adapted to normally engage the pin 14 on the side of such pinopposite from the direction of rotation. Also fastened to the shaft isone end of a leaf spring 16 and the other end of this spring bears uponthe pin 13 on the side of such pin opposite from the direction ofrotation, Formed in the periphery of the disk 9 is a notch 17, andnormally engaging the notch 17 is a dog 18 formed on one end of a lever19 pivoted be tween its ends on a bracket 20 mounted on the top wall ofthe casing 1. rEheother end of the lever 19 extends through the slot 5into the coin chute 2 and is disposed withink the path of the coin.Connected with the coin chute end of the lever 19 is one end of aretractile spring 21 and the other end of the spring is fastened to thetop wall of the casing 1, the spring acting toY hold the coin chute endof the lever normally at the upper` end of the slot 5 and the dom inengagement with the slot 17 in the dis 9 to hold the latter againstrotation.

Also arranged within the casing l isa master switch, which in thepresent instance embodies a partially circular strip 22 of insulatingmaterial and conductor strips 23 secured to one face of the strip 22 andspaced apart. These strips 23 are preferably seated in grooves formed inthe strip 22 so that the outer side of the conductor strip will lieflush with the adjacent surface of the insulating strip. Arranged at thecenter of the curve described by the conductor strips is a shaft 2,4 andmounted upon this shaft 21 is a toothed segment 25 that meshes with aspur pinion 2G fixed upon the motor shaft of the chronometer. Connectedwith the segment 25 is one end of a contact arin 27 and the other en dof this arm en- Y gages the strips 23 to bridge the latter. Se-

cured to one end of the strip 22 and spaced f apart from the adjacentends of the strips 23 is astop pin 28, while secured to the strip 22 atthe other end thereof and spaced apart from the adjacent ends of thestrips 23 a. distance greater than the width of the contact arm 27 is astop pin 29.

The gear ratio between the segment 25 and the pinion 26 is such thatwhen the arm 27 engages the pin 29, there is still suiiicient energyleft in the chronometer motor spring to render it operative for severaladditional revolutions of the disk 9 had it not been stopped by theengagement of the arm 27 With the pin 29f This arrangement has atendency to prevent the possibility of the chronometer stopping beforethe arm has reached the pin 29 due to unexpected increase in friction inthe controller mechanism, which increase in friction might cause thechronometer motor to stop immediately at the time when thechronometermotor spring has nearly run down.

In practice, the strips 23 and the contact fingers 12 are connected inseries in the controlled circuit, andthe chronometer motor spring woundup in order to operate the chronometer mechanism. `In the Winding of thechronometer motor the arm 27 moves over the strips 23 and enga-ges thestop pin 28, thereby preventing further Winding of the chronometer motorspring and the pin 28 holds the arm 27 in engagement with the adjacentends of the strips 23 to bridge the latter. In the normal position ofthe disk 9 the stop bar 15 engages the pin 14, ,andthe spring 16y inengagement with the pin 13 is undertension yand vacts to move the diskinitially aroundthe shaft 8 as soon as the dog 18 is disengaged from thenotch 17.

When it is desired to close the controlled circuit, a coin of the properdenomination is deposited in the coin chute 2 through the opening f1,and such coin engages the adncent end of the lever 19. The plunger 3 1sthen depressed and engages the coin with the e'ect'to swing the lever 19about its pivotal connection with the bracket, thereby disengaging thedog 18 from the notch 17 in the disk 9, the coin, after swinging thelever 19, dropping through the slot 6 into a com receptacle arrangedwithin the casing 1 to catch the coin. As soon as the disk 9 is relievedof kthe influence of the dog 18 the spring 16 reacts and rotates thedisk 9 around the shaft 8 and in this rotation of the disk the pin 13engages the bar 15 under the action of the spring 16, Ywhile one end ofthe ring 1() moves under the lingers 12, thereby closing the controlledcircuit so that the translating devicestherein may be energized. As thechronometer mechanism is now free to turn the shaft 8 incident to thedog 18 having been moved out of the notch 17, the disk 9 will now becaused to rotate by the thrust of the spring 1G exerted against the pin13. since the spring 16 is rigidly secured to the shaft 8 and undertension when the circuit controller is inactive. 1V hen set in motion,as just described, the disk 9 will continue to rotate through onerevolution, at the end of which, the dog 18 engages the notch 17, vthuspreventing further rotation of the disk 9 and leaving the disk in suchposition that the Contact ends of the lingers 12 rest in the open spacebetween the ends of the ring 10, thereby breaking the controlled circuitso that it iS necessary to deposit another coin in the apparatusbcforethe controlled circuit may be again closed. After the disk 9 is stoppedby the engagement 'of the dog 18 with the notch 17, ,the shaft 8 willcont-inne to rotate the bar 15 through the angular space from the pin 13to the pin 14, thereby increasing the tension upon the spring 16. Whenthe bar 15 engages the pin 14 the bar is held against further movementand the spr-ing 16 is under maximum tension, further movement of theshaft 8 being prevented incident to the bar 15having enga-ged the pin14.

As long as the spring motor of the chronometer isunder tension, thearm27 travels slowly over the strips 23, and when such motor runs downthe arm 2,7 engages the pin 29 and disengages the strips 23, therebybreaking the controlled cincuit at the master switch and preventingfurther ation Q f the chronometer until the motor 1s rewound.

It will be noted that owing inthe springA 16 rotating the disk 9immediately on the movement of the dog 18 out of the notch 17, the notchis moved out of line with the dog, thereby preventing the dog fromrengaging the notch until the disk has made one complete Arevolution.

While I have `herein shown and described the preferred form of myinvention by way of illustration, I wish it to be understood that I donot limit or confine myself to the precise details of constructionherein shown and described, as modification and variation may be madewithin the scope of the claims and without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

l. In a time controlled circuit controller, a chronometer, circuitclosing mechanism operable from said chronometer and embodying a disk, asplit conductor ring secured to one face of said disk concentricallythereof and having the ends spaced apart, contact lingers connected inthe controlled circuit and having the ends thereof normally engagingsaid disk at a point between the ends of said ring to hold thecontrolled circuit open, and means holding said disk normally againstturning movement under the action of said chronometer and operable torelease said disk.

2. In a time controlled circuit controller, a chronometer, circuitclosing mechanism operable from said chronometer and embodying a disk, asplit conductor ring secured to one face of said disk concentricallythereof and having the ends spaced apart, contact lingers connected inthe controlled circuit and having the ends thereof normally engagingsaid disk at a point between the ends of said ring to hold thecontrolled circuit open, and coin controlled mechanism holding said diskagainst turning movement under the action of said chronometer andoperable to release said disk.

3. In a time controlled circuit controller, a chronometer, circuitclosing mechanism operable from said chronometer and embodying a disk, asplit conductor ring secured to one face of said disk concentricallythereof and having the ends spaced apart, contact fingers connected inthe controlled circuit and having the ends thereof normally engagingsaid disk at a point between the ends of said ring to hold thecontrolled circuit open, means holding said disk normally againstturning movement under the action of said chronometer and operable torelease said disk,A a shaft upon which said disk is loosely mounted, aconnection between said shaft and chronometer, and means for impartinginitial movement to said disk upon its release and serving as a drivingconnection between the disk and said chronometer mechanism.

4C. In a time controlled circuit controller, a chronometer, circuitclosing mechanism operable from said chronometer and embodying a disk, asplit conductor ring secured to one face of said disk concentricallythereof and having the ends spaced apart, contact fingers connected inthe controlled circuit and having the ends thereof normally engagingsaid disk at a point between the ends of said ring to hold thecontrolled circuit open, means holding said disk normally against'turning movement under the action of said chronometer and operable torelease said disk, a shaft upon which said disk is loosely mounted, aconnection between said shaft and chronometer, and means for initiallyrotating said disk upon its release and thereafter serving` as a drivingconnection between the disk and the chronometer mechanism.

In testimony whereof I a'IfiX my signature.

VAUGHAN R. BACON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

